Flow-Rite/Pro-Fill January 05, 2005, 01:40:37 pm Yahoo Message Number: 48729Hi all,For those adding a battery bank, and using Pro-Fill, I just checked with the factory for the recommendation about fill points.If one battery bank is lower than another, then they fill point has to be at the lowest bank, or each bank should have its own fill point. I had wanted to fill both at the upper bank, but was concerned about the lines later draining into the lower bank causing over fill . . . they confirmed that this would occur.all the best,bumper
Re: Flow-Rite/Pro-Fill Reply #1 – January 05, 2005, 02:24:21 pm Yahoo Message Number: 48738I have the system, but here's a word to the wise: Prior to my recent trip to the Pacific NW, Linley Gumm alerted me to the possibility of freezing water in those 1/4 in. tubes. So I removed the system for the duration of the winter and will re-install in the spring.David
Re: Flow-Rite/Pro-Fill Reply #2 – January 05, 2005, 02:52:33 pm Yahoo Message Number: 48742Quote "If one battery bank is lower than another, then they fill point has to be at the lowest bank..."bumperbumperIf you want the straight scoop you've got to go to the horse's mouth! Thanks for sharing that.Steve S. Lazy Bones
Re: Flow-Rite/Pro-Fill Reply #3 – January 05, 2005, 03:11:10 pm Yahoo Message Number: 48743Quote "...possibility of freezing water in those 1/4 in. tubes..." [of the Pro-Fill system]David DavidI no sooner read your post but what I jumped up to go check on my Pro-Fill tubes. In early December I had occasion to experience 24° temps overnight while camped in the Salinas Valley here in Califronia. An early morning departure was called for and I had to use my Channel-Lock pliers to disconnect my water hose from the park faucet. Unable to close the faucet valve I had to leave that to chance. I can only imagine what happened when the pipes thawed out.But, I can report that there was no damage to the Pro-Fill tubes. Perhaps it has something to do with volume. My water hose did not rupture either.Steve S. Lazy Bones
Re: Flow-Rite/Pro-Fill Reply #4 – January 05, 2005, 03:14:01 pm Yahoo Message Number: 48745Quote I have the system, but here's a word to the wise: Prior to my recent trip to the Pacific NW, Linley Gumm alerted me to the possibility of freezing water in those 1/4 in. tubes. So I removed the system for the duration of the winter and will re-install in the spring.David David,I also discussed the freezing issue with, I think it was Ron, at Fill-Rite. He said as long as I filled at each bank, or at the bottom bank, that freezing was not an issue.The valves in the Fill-Rite / Pro-Fill, are pressure operated. That is to say that they shut off when the cells are each full, and when you are squeezing the bulb. After releasing that pressure with the bulb, and you disconnect the fill line, water will drain out of the disconnected flil line fitting. *But* any residual water in the fill line, interconnecting lines, and manifold, all drains into the battery cells. This is a small amount of water, and Fill-Rite s thinking in designing the valves this way was to protect the system from freezing. No need to remove it in the winter.all the best,bumper
Re: Flow-Rite/Pro-Fill Reply #5 – January 05, 2005, 05:30:49 pm Yahoo Message Number: 48756Quote "...possibility of freezing water in those 1/4 in. tubes..." [of the Pro-Fill system]DavidDavidI no sooner read your post but what I jumped up to go check on my Pro-Fill tubes. My water hose did not rupture either. My primary worry was about freezing water breaking or otherwise screwing up the little valves that fit in the individual cells. I thought the hose would stretch enough not to rupture when freezing. I don't know if there is a problem here or not. When I saw Bumper's item today about contacting the factory, I made a mental note that I should call them and find out if there is a problem with the system freezing or not.Linley
Re: Flow-Rite/Pro-Fill Reply #6 – January 05, 2005, 09:51:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 48775When I saw Bumper's Quoteitem today about contacting the factory, I made a mental note that I should call them and find out if there is a problem with the system freezing or not.Linley Hi Linley,Per the factory, there is no problem with the system freezing. The individual valve/s only stay sealed closed when two conditions exist at the same time - 1)the electrolyte is up to the correct level in that cell and 2) there is fluid pressure on the fill line from the squeeze bulb.As soon as you release pressure on the fill line by disconnecting the squeeze bulb pump, some excess water runs out the battery side of the fill line connector and the remainder of the water dribbles into the cells as the valves are no longer held closed by input fluid pressure.This "excess" water draining into the battery is insignificant in terms of raising cell levels in normal Pro-Fill installations. However, this is why Fill-Rite advised me not to fill two banks, when one is low, from only the high bank. And especially if the interconnect line between banks is long, as there is a risk of overfilling the lower bank due to the volume of water in the long interconnect.all the best,bumper
Re: Flow-Rite/Pro-Fill Reply #7 – January 06, 2005, 12:44:52 am Yahoo Message Number: 48783QuotePer the factory, there is no problem with the system freezing. The individual valve/s only stay sealed closed when two conditions exist at the same time - 1)the electrolyte is up to the correct level in that cell and 2) there is fluid pressure on the fill line from the squeeze bulb.As soon as you release pressure on the fill line by disconnecting the squeeze bulb pump, some excess water runs out the battery side of the fill line connector and the remainder of the water dribbles into the cells as the valves are no longer held closed by input fluid pressure. Thanks for the info. I could visualize a hydraulic lock being created between a frozen hose and a closed valve in the cell. This would ultimately break something. If the system essentially drains down after the pump is disconnected, then there is no problem ... (?) Uh,... I know everyone is getting good use out of this system, so this must not be a problem. But, if the valves in the cell open when the pressure is released, I wonder what prevents the electrolyte from being siphoned out of the battery when the input hose is lowered below the batteries? Is there an anti-syphon valve somewhere in the system I have not noticed? Do I remember a check valve in the pump line?Linley
Re: Flow-Rite/Pro-Fill Reply #8 – January 06, 2005, 01:09:53 am Yahoo Message Number: 48784QuoteUh,... I know everyone is getting good use out of this system, so this must not be a problem. But, if the valves in the cell open when the pressure is released, I wonder what prevents the electrolyte from being siphoned out of the battery when the input hose is lowered below the batteries? Is there an anti-syphon valve somewhere in the system I have not noticed? Do I remember a check valve in the pump line?Linley As any good gas thief would know, syphoning will not normally occur if there is an air leak in the sypon hose anywhere above the level of the fluid to be syphoned. Also, the syphon hose must extend down below that fluid level (okay, some pro-fill installations might have the fill tube down low). *But* the cell caps have vent holes = air leak. Also, the pick up tube of a syphon system must extend down into the liquid to be syphoned and with no air leaks. The battery cell caps provide no such air tight pick up.The pro-fill seems well engineered.bumper
Topic: Flow-Rite/Pro-Fill (Read 3 times)
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Topic: Flow-Rite/Pro-Fill (Read 3 times)
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